ABOUT THIS ALBUM

Album Notes

Bata Ketu is a musical Interplay consisting of six acts. It tells the story of Yoruba music uprooted from Mother Africa, transplanted in Cuba and Brazil, evolving separately over time, and then reuniting today. The extraordinary music heard on Bata Ketu is the work of two visionary American percussionists, Michael Spiro and Mark Lamson. Together with the Brazilian folkloric singer, Jorge Alabe, and legendary Cuban vocalist, Bobi Céspedes, a timelss tradition comes full circle from its long journey though the ages.

this is the best cd ever. if you love bata drumming and orisha (devotee) you will love this cd. it combines the brazillian and cuban orisha music. listen to the excerpts and you'll know what i'm talking about. this was my first introduction to orisha music, and still my favorite!

Little needs to be said of this disc and the artists featured on it, but for those not familiar with Bata Ketu, the project and music are led by two master percussionists from California, Mark Lamson and Michael Spiro. Bata Ketu features the vibrant and infectious Yoruban-born Afro-Latin music of Brazil and Cuba, uniquely-embodied by Spiro and Lamson’s own creativity, artistic vision and in-depth experience with the traditional music. Highlighting the batá drums, the vocals of Brazilian folkloric singer, Jorge Alabe and master Cuban vocalist, Bobi Céspedes, this project is one of the most well-loved and respected among many music communities, considered by many to be a “must-have” for students of anything remotely Afro-Cuban or Brazilian.